Review – 2014 Official Formula One Test, Bahrain (27 February-2 March)

PIRELLI ANNOUNCES TYRE CHOICE FOR FIRST FOUR GRANDS PRIX

INCREASED PERFORMANCE GAP BETWEEN HARD AND MEDIUM,
AND MEDIUM AND SOFT COMPOUNDS

LESS DEGRADATION, ZERO BLISTERING, AND VERY LITTLE GRAINING
SHOWN IN BAHRAIN

At the end of the third and final pre-season test, held in Bahrain, Pirelli has announced the compounds that will be used for the first four races this year:

Australia P ZERO WHITE MEDIUM and P ZERO YELLOW SOFT

Malaysia P ZERO ORANGE HARD and P ZERO WHITE MEDIUM

Bahrain P ZERO WHITE MEDIUM and P ZERO YELLOW SOFT

China P ZERO WHITE MEDIUM and P ZERO YELLOW SOFT

These choices have been made to reflect the characteristics of each circuit and the all-new 2014 cars, bearing in mind all the data that has been obtained from the three pre-season tests.

The teams were able to complete their assessment of Pirelli’s new compounds over the last four days in Bahrain, with the final test finishing today exactly two weeks before the start of the opening grand prix of the season. Consequently, many teams focussed on qualifying and race simulations.

The results of the final test showed an increased performance gap between the hard and the medium compound, and the medium and the soft compound: the two combinations of tyres that will be used at the first four races. This will give plenty of scope for the teams to formulate interesting strategies to boost their race prospects.

The characteristics of the 2014 P Zero tyre range were in line with expectations in Bahrain, maintaining similar performance to last year but with less degradation. There was no blistering and very little graining, underlining the performance of the latest compounds so far in a wide range of conditions. There was also a reduction in tread wear levels.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director:

“The information gained over all three pre-season tests has helped us to come up with the tyre choices for the start of the season, having run with the new 2014 tyres in all conditions now: ranging from rain in Jerez to ambient temperatures exceeding 25 degrees centigrade in Bahrain. The conclusion we can draw so far is that the 2014 tyres are more consistent and wear less than their predecessors, without compromising performance. We’re also meeting another of our objectives with one more step towards the reduction of ‘marbles’ on the track. The medium and soft compounds are well matched to the expected race conditions in Australia, Bahrain and China, providing what we expect to be the right balance between performance and strategy with two to three pit stops per car. The more abrasive and hotter conditions of Malaysia have led us to nominate the hard and medium compounds there, as we did last year.”

Testing Facts:

As expected, the teams completed the biggest distances seen yet during the final pre-event test in Bahrain. In total, 762 laps were covered during day one, 868 laps during day two, 803 laps during day three, and 874 laps during day four. This makes a total of 3307 laps for four days, compared with 2322 at the previous Bahrain test.

Teams had a maximum of 30 sets of tyres per car to test in Bahrain. Pirelli chose 22 of those sets and the teams were then able to choose in advance the remaining eight sets, up to their maximum permitted total of 30. In total, 135 sets of tyres are allowed per team for testing purposes throughout 2014.

The performance differences seen in the second Bahrain test between the compounds are approximately as follows: the supersoft is around 0.7s per lap faster than the soft, the soft is around 1.3-1.5s per lap quicker than the medium, and the medium is around 1.3-1.5s per lap quicker than the hard. These gaps are expected to come down as the teams improve their understanding of the tyres during the season.

More Testing Facts:

The total testing distance completed so far this year, combining Jerez and both Bahrain tests is 7,099 laps and 36,974 kilometres. This time last year, the teams had completed 10,902 laps and 49,942 kilometres of pre-season testing (Jerez and two Barcelona tests 2013 combined).

Williams driver Felipe Massa set the fastest lap of this Bahrain test, with a time of 1m33.258s on Saturday with the P Zero Red supersoft. By way of comparison, the fastest lap in Bahrain at the previous test last week was 1m33.283s, set by Nico Rosberg (Mercedes). The fastest race lap at the Bahrain Grand Prix last year was 1m36.961s, set by Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel. Pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix last year was 1m32.330s, also set by Rosberg.

The highest number of total laps completed at this year’s Bahrain test by any one driver was 236 laps from Valtteri Bottas (Williams). Force India driver Sergio Perez set the second-highest total, 213 laps.

Testing numbers:

Total number of sets brought to Bahrain: 341 sets which equals 1,364 tyres
- of which supersoft tyres: 14 sets
- of which soft tyres: 61 sets
- of which medium tyres: 139 sets
- of which hard tyres: 94 sets
- of which ‘winter’ hard tyres: 28 sets
- of which intermediate tyres: 3 sets
- of which wet tyres: 2 sets

Total amount of sets used: 319
- of which supersoft tyres: 31 sets
- of which soft tyres: 83 sets
- of which medium tyres: 172 sets
- of which hard tyres: 30 sets
- of which ‘winter’ tyres: 3 sets
- of which intermediate tyres: 0 sets
- of which wet tyres: 0 sets

Longest run:
19 laps on the supersoft compound
22 laps of the soft compound
24 laps on the medium compound
18 laps on the hard compound
2 laps on the ‘winter’ compound
0 laps on the intermediate compound
0 laps on the wet compound

Highest / lowest ambient temperature over four days: 30 °C / 22 °C
Highest / lowest track temperature over four days: 39 °C / 25 °C

Testing Times:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4